The former chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Sergei Shaptala was dismissed from military service following the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny. This was reported by the Ukrayinska Pravda publication, citing sources in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
On February 9, Zelensky dismissed Shaptala from the post of Chief of the General Staff and appointed Anatoly Bargilevich, who commanded the territorial defense forces, instead.
“Zaluzhny and Shaptala were dismissed based on the conclusion of the military medical commission that they were unfit for military service and were removed from the military register,” the publication wrote in its Telegram channel. There has not yet been any official confirmation of this information from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
Earlier, the publication “Zerkalo Nedeli” reported, citing sources, that Zaluzhny passed a medical examination in February and was declared unfit for military service. It was also clarified that in February Zaluzhny wrote a report on his dismissal from military service.
The publication explained that after the dismissal of the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he was placed at the disposal of the Minister of Defense. However, Zerkalo Nedeli continues, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine did not offer him any significant military position adequate to Zaluzhny’s level of training and experience, just as the president himself had not offered it earlier. Under these conditions, Zaluzhny decided to resign from military service in order to have the opportunity and right to do something else, the publication wrote.
On February 8, Zelensky dismissed Zaluzhny from the post of commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, pointing out stagnation at the front and the need to “reboot the generals,” but on February 9 he awarded him the title “Hero of Ukraine.” On Thursday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported that Zelensky had agreed on Zaluzhny’s candidacy for the post of ambassador to the UK.